Pick up a padel racket and the first thing you notice is what is missing: there are no strings, and the face is full of holes. They are not only for the visual appeal but the science is far more detailed. To see why they exist, it helps to know what the rest of the racket is made of, because the holes only make sense as part of the build.
What a Padel Racket Is Made Of
Frame. The outer shell that sets the racket's shape. It is usually carbon fibre, fibreglass or a blend, with Kevlar on some premium models. Carbon is the common choice because it balances strength and low weight, while fibreglass is softer and more forgiving but heavier (Padel1969, Padelgear).
Face. The hitting surface, laid over the core, in carbon fibre or fibreglass. Carbon is graded by a K number, where K stands for thousand: a 3K weave has 3,000 fibres per tow. 3K is less rigid, which favours comfort and control, while 12K is stronger and favours power over control. The FIP rules allow the face to be smooth or rough, and the Kinex, Equinex 3K and Dynamex 12K all list a textured grit surface.
Core. The material inside the frame, which sets how the racket feels on impact. It is either EVA or foam. EVA is a soft, flexible plastic sold in hardness grades, and a harder, denser EVA gives more power. Foam has a softer touch and lower vibration but wears out faster (Padelgear).
Handle, grip and strap. FIP rules cap the whole racket at 45.5 cm, the handle at 20 cm, and the head at 26 cm wide and 38 mm thick. A non-elastic wrist strap of up to 35 cm is mandatory.
In the British Council's overview of how rackets are made, resin-soaked carbon sheets are layered in a mould and cured under heat and pressure, the core is bonded in, and the face is laminated on top. Only then are the holes drilled and the grip fitted.
So, Why the Holes?
FIP rules allow an unlimited number of cylindrical holes. In the central area they must measure 9 to 13 mm across, and within 4 cm of the edge they may be larger, up to 20 mm. The number and pattern are therefore the maker's choice.
Weight. Removing material lightens the face. Most modern rackets sit around 350 to 380 g, according to Padel Speed, which adds that a fully solid face would likely feel heavier and slower.
Airflow. Makers say holes improve aerodynamics. A peer-reviewed fluid dynamics study by Francisco Huera-Huarte (2014) took that claim as its starting point, measuring drag on a generic racquet with different hole configurations and asking whether the holes are optimally placed. The effect is not universally agreed. Padel1969 argues that holes do not really minimise air resistance.
Flex and feel. Holes change how the face flexes. Padel Speed notes that more holes does not automatically mean more comfort, and Padel1969 says holes reduce the hardness of the impact surface.
The trade-off. Holes cost strength. A 2025 MIT mechanical engineering thesis on padel racket design, as summarised by Padel1969, reports that drilling holes reduces drag and weight but compromises structural stiffness, and that torn edges from hand drilling disrupted airflow.
What holes do not do matters too. Padel Speed says they do not create the sweet spot by themselves, do not directly add power, and are not the main reason a racket produces spin. Spin depends more on technique, contact angle, head speed and surface texture.
Types of Padel Rackets: How the Parts Add Up
Shape is the clearest way to tell types of padel rackets apart, because it changes where the weight sits. According to Padel1969, a round racket has equal centre weight distribution, with the biggest sweet spot and more control. A teardrop balances towards the upper middle, mixing control and power. A diamond balances towards the top, giving more power, but it is heavier and can tire the arm.
FirstEdge Sports' range covers all three. The Kinex Carbon Fibre Padel Racket is round, with 100% carbon construction and throat gaps its listing describes as aerodynamic. The Equinex 3K Carbon Fibre Padel Racket is teardrop shaped with a 3K carbon fibre frame, at 355 to 365 g. The Dynamex 12K Carbon Fibre Padel Racket has a diamond head in 12K carbon with a medium EVA core, at 360 to 370 g.
When comparing rackets, shape, carbon grade and core are the specs worth checking. The hole pattern is set by the maker within FIP limits. Browse the full range of types of padel rackets to compare them.
